PV schools incumbent Karen Osmundson looks for better times in third term

WATSONVILLE - With cuts to classrooms and employee layoffs, serving on the school board hasn't been much fun during Karen Osmundson's second term.

Osmundson said after such hard times she considered not running for re-election, but ultimately she decided she owed it to district employees and to her constituents in Trustee Area III to seek another four years. No other candidates that shared her perspective emerged, said Osmundson, who faces a challenge from parent Elsa Nunez.

The trustee area covers southwestern Watsonville and part of North Monterey County

"I felt a sense of responsibility to the community, to fight for teachers and classified (workers)," said Osmundson, who was first elected in 2004 with the support of the teachers union. "I want to continue to be their voice."

And Osmundson is looking forward to better days ahead if voters pass the district's $150 million school bond measure and Proposition 30, a statewide tax initiative to fund public education.

The school bond would pay for repairs at the district's aging schools, as well as for a solar project expected to generate savings on utility bills that could be directed back to the classroom.

Osmundson would use any savings to reduce class sizes, which have grown as state education funding fell in recent years. She'd also like to hire back custodians and counselors, whose numbers have dwindled through budget cuts.

The district has cut $18.5 million during the past five years, and could lose $7.6 million more, or $441 per student, if the statewide tax measure fails, according to Chief Business Officer Brett McFadden.

"We've already increased class sizes. We can't raise them more. Could we cut more custodians? No, we could not. We're at bare-bones now," she said. "We cut nurses to the bare-bones too."

Recalling the uproar from parents when cuts were made to school bus service a few years ago, Osmundson said she'd also oppose any reductions to transportation that would reduce services. In the past, she's advocated for spending less on administration, and that's where she'd look for savings again if necessary, Osmundson said.

Despite her initial reluctance to run, Osmundson said she's fully committed to serving. During the past eight years, she said she's served on several committees and attended all the open houses and fundraisers at her area schools, except on the rare occasion when two fell at the same time.